Godly suffering, it sounds so painful... but it's not. It's more like doing exercise or working hard on a project and pushing yourself to the limit, afterward, you are invigorated, strengthened!!!
Don't be afraid when God calls you into Godly suffering, it is not the same as when the devil comes to steal, kill, or destroy.. Godly suffering is like going to the gym or taking a long run... it is healthy and fills you with joy!
Think about this the next time God is pressing you! He doesn't bury us, he PLANT US!! Why? to strengthen us, settle us ROOT US!!
1 Peter 5: 10 And the God of all grace, which hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a little, make you perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Why did Jesus suffer on earth, being persecuted unto death, publicly shamed, ridiculed by those who should have lifted him up? He did it for the joy that was set before him!!! If God calls you to Godly suffering it will be because there is an end goal... a crown that fadeth not away...
Hebrews 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of [a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, [b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
.3 Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart....
The Bible says that those who run races do so for an earthly crown...
1 Corinthians 9:
25 Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a [h]crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither]. 26 Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing]. 27 But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].
Life can throw us some curve balls for sure. We need to always be in the Spirit to see if something is a spiritual attack from the enemy or a refining fire sent by God to exercise us, to train us.. God is like Rocky's trainer!! Is the enemy attacking you or is God training you? It's so very important we can hear the Spirit of God on this... God is going to push us, train us, get us in spiritual shape.. the enemy makes us weak, sickens us, and gets our eyes on ourselves and off of God.. If God is training you, know that THERE IS A REWARD!!! Jesus suffered for the JOY that was set before him!! You will know God is training you when something is hard, maybe super hard, but you have joy, you desire to press on for that Heavenly prize... God wants us to see that end goal...maybe it's Heavenly, maybe it's the restoration of family, salvation of a loved one, a future he's promised you... You will know it's God when the Spirit and Word of God are flowing forth from you... buckle down then, work hard... in the end you will be strengthened, rooted, built up, and a formidable opponent to whatever comes your way!
And just when you think the enemy has got you cornered, that there is no way out!! THE BREAKER, THE MESSIAH, BREAKS THROUGH!!!!!
Micah 2:13“The breaker goes up before them;
They break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it.
So their king goes on before them,
And the LORD at their head.”
So work hard, train hard... there are REWARDS!!! GOD WANTS YOU TO LOOK TO THOSE HEAVENLY REWARDS...dream about them, meditate on them... they are holy, pure, righteous... Whatever dreams and visions God has put in your heart, think on them, let them flow forth in your everyday living... think on Heaven, think about seeing our Lord face to face...think on healing, restoration, think on Jesus turning this world around!!
1 Corinthians 15:27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
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